It came too fast.

My son put up a trees and lights.

Told kids we would do xmas breakfast and dinner but no gift exchange for adults. Then I found out my 6 year old grandson was not getting any presents at his home or from his father's side of family. So I had my hubby take me to Target to get some xmas gifts for little one. My daughter sent me his wish list. Every item was over $100 each. Not in my budget. I did find some nice gifts for his age. But wow, screaming kids, angry parents, I don't want to go to a store again. My husband started to melt down after about 20 minutes. I do much better at internet shopping. I gave my younger son some cash and gave him the last items to purchase, he can deal with the shoppers, I retire!

My older son will be getting the xmas food and cooking so we should be set.

Wishing everyone some wonderful family time. Safe and peaceful.
Hugs-RJ

Geez you sound so organized. I have finished most of my shopping, mailed a few essential cards out. This year I have not put decorations up, I just don't have the energy. My youngest is 17 and she assured me she would not miss them.

We are going to have Christmas dinner at a friend's house this year. She has also been kind enough to share some baking with us. I feel kind of bad I'm not doing more but just don't feel well enough.

Just need to wrap.

hello...as for me, all the gifts i purchased are wrapped and most are distributed...we are having our Christmas dinner this Sunday, tomorrow, because my mom works on Christmas day.. we will exchange gifts and bring ours home to put under our tree til the big day...my back has been so painful lately that i havent used my oven in over two years...my care provider does all the cooking in my house...i would like to bake some sweets for our neighbor but i dont have the strength...its hard enough for me to get my own cereal...i'll ask mom to bake me a pineapple upside down cake...she makes one for everyone in her cul de sak on her street...im going to give my friend hers when she comes to spend the night new years eve til that Wednesdayill take another friend her gift on the way to moms tomorrow...its nice to be in the spirit of love thanks and giving...i am usually too depressed to get into the spirit of things...this is the first time in 9 years so its kind of special to me...Merry Christmas guys and safe happy new year

I'm Ready and Waiting. I love the music, Christmas trees, hearing from old friends, the Spirit of Love and Sharing~

WE'RE READY FOR CHRISTMAS. WE GIVE MONEY FOR GIFTS BECAUSE OUR GRANDKIDS GET SO MUCH AND THEY HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE BUYING FOR THEM THAT WE GIVE THEM MONEY. THEN THEIR PARENTS CAN TAKE THEM TO THE STORE FOR THOSE AFTER CHRISTMAS SALES. OUR SONS AND DAUGHTER-IN-LAWS CAN USE MONEY TO BUY THINGS THAT THEY HAVE TO BUY AFTER THE HOLIDAYS. WE HAVE 7 GRANDCHILDREN-3 GRANDSONS AND 4 GRANDDAUGHTERS. 4 SONS AND 3 DAUGHTER-IN-LAWS.
WE CELEBRATE ON CHRISTMAS EVE BECAUSE ON CHRISTMAS DAY EVERYONE IS BUSY DOING OTHER THINGS. OUR ONE SON WHO ISN'T MARRIED WILL HAVE CHRISTMAS DINNER WITH US.
WE HAVE TWO MORE GRANDSONS THEN WE HAD LAST YEAR BUT IT'S LOT OF FUN. WE WON'T SEE HUNTER-HE'S 6 MONTHS OLD UNTIL AFTER THE HOLIDAYS BUT WE'LL SEE JACOB-HE'S 1 MONTH OLD ON CHRISTMAS EVE.
I HOPE ALL OF YOU HAVE A VERY MERRY AND BLESSED CHRISTMAS. HUGS, CHRIS

Ready n waiting

I am ready, done and over! I had Christmas with my sons and family over the past 2 days, they left around 7:00 and then I past out for 2 solid hours....I haven't been that active or done that much or went so many hours (yesterday 7:00 a.m. - 11:30 p.m.) without a nap in God knows how long.

But we had a blast and now I can sleep or rest for 3 days until work on Wednesday!

not ready. We have had no power the past two days and it really screwed up my plans. :( I live in the boonies so it is no small thing to have the power out in winter.

I am just not in the mood this year. My family is fighting as usual so hubby and I are staying here. Glad we do not have to drive but I do miss my family. :(

Happy Holidays everyone - Blessed be

Kallie

trying to get my wrapping finished. it hurts me to stay bent over for very long.

RJ: Yes, it did come too fast...as usual! I am so sorry to hear that your grandson was not going to have a Christmas but very glad to hear that you have him taken care of. Just wondering what a 6yr old boy would want that cost over $100? I guess we do live in an "electronics" age, so I am only guessing that that might have had something to do with it? lol

Kelley: It sounds like you will have a lovely time at your friends house. Don't feel bad that you can't do much. Take a break and enjoy the holidays.

heather: If all you have to do is wrap, then it sounds like you are in good shape!

e4now: I am sorry to hear that your Mother has to work on Christmas day, however, it is very nice that you and your family have put aside time to be together, because that is the true spirit of Christmas anyway. Being with loved ones.

yogacat: I am with you. I just LOVE everything about Christmas. It is my favorite time of the year!

tgik: Money is always a great present. I like your logic that your loved ones can pick up some great after Christmas bargains!

bill: Same here.....just waiting for the big day!

katlyn: So nice to hear that you had a fantastic time with your family. No wonder you were exhausted afterwards!

Kallie: I am so sorry to hear that your power is out and that your family is fighting. I can understand why you would not be in the mood for Christmas. Hopefully things will turn around real quick and you can still enjoy the holidays.

travis: same here....wrapping literally puts me in AGONY. I hate to do it, however, my husband does so much around here already, I would feel bad if I asked him to do that too.

Whatever you do, I hope everyone has a low pain, low stress holiday!

Hugs,

Carrie

Carrie,

It's so nice to see you posting again!

I'm pretty much ready for the holiday. We're out of flour, so I have to wait til tomorrow to make my traditional walnut bread for Christmas morning. Tim has also volunteered to make Eggs Benedict, which we try to have every year

Conor and I made Gingerbread Cows yesterday and had a blast! First time I've been hit by a ball of dough in my life (accident). We listened to Christmas music and made chocolate chip cookies too. I used to make a lot more cookies, but it almost kills me just to make the cows.

All the gifts are wrapped and under the tree- except for mine. Of course my hubby is waiting til the last minute but he's been working the last few nights so I'll cut him some slack. He did go grocery shopping yesterday and brought home such delicious goodies for Christmas Eve. We are invited to two parties then, but one is too far (his brother's) and the other, well, let's just say that his sister is a mean drunk and leave it at that. So we're going to church and then coming home and having some family time. Video games are banned on Christmas Eve!

We're making ham, scalloped potatoes and asparagus for dinner. I say "we" because Tim will do more than his fair share. He's actually a good cook, just not adventurous as me. And we're having apple pie for dessert (frozen).

The thing that I'm most excited about is that now we can go to church on Christmas Eve. Tim thought he had to work and the SUV is still not fixed, so I wouldn't have anyway to go. But now we can! Praise God!

Well, going to go hunt down a Christmas movie to watch. I've seen 'Christmas Vacation', 'Scrooged', 'It's a Wonderful Life','Miracle on 34th St' and 'A Christmas Story' so far. Really want to see 'Love,Actually'. That's my favorite Christmas movie.

Sandy

Thank you Sandy!

It's good to be back. It sounds like you are very organized like I am (or I at least try to be...lol). We are also having a ham dinner tomorrow night. We buy one every year. It is pre-cooked & pre-sliced and comes from the Kansas City Steak company. Ironically, we don't even like their steaks, but love their ham! lol Scalloped potatoes sound really good and go great with ham, however, we are going to make mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes. Personally, I cannot get enough of sweet potatoes. I could eat them all day long! lol

It sounds like we are both lucky that our husbands are good cooks. I am actually a good cook myself, however, it is rare that I get to cook anything anymore considering that I am in pain 24/7. I try to help when I can though. I already know how difficult it is going to be to bake cut-out cookies today, however, I know that my dear hubby will be right there to help with the oven as the kids can do the rest.

Your gingerbread cows sound so cute! I am sure they are delicious too! I have never attempted to make anything gingerbread related. I always assumed it was difficult. You should post a picture.

I also love to watch Christmas movies. The Hallmark channel runs them 24 hours per day, so I have already watched too many to count. I usually watch them late at night when everyone is in bed. I find it very relaxing.

I haven't had my morning coffee yet, so I am going to run. Hope everyone has a blessed Sunday!

Hugs,

Carrie

Carrie,
I tried to post them here yesterday but DS was acting up. I'll try again today. I've been making them since I was 15. It was nice to have Conor help me- he rolled them out (which kills my arms and shoulders) and we really had so much fun. And then we made a batch of Pillsbury chocolate chip cookies from a roll. I think they taste as good as homemade.

The scalloped potatoes is my grandmom's recipe and I learned how to make them from my mom. Now I'm teaching my son how to make them. He peels the tators for me which is such a big help. This time I'll have him actually assemble them so he really knows how they're made.

I'm also going to make raisin sauce for the ham. I don't like it, but Tim loves it and his mom made it for them every year. Conor likes it too so it won't go to waste.

But that's the end of baking and cooking for Christmas. We're having fresh white asparagus which is really a treat! (But Tim will cook that).

And dessert is a frozen apple pie with ice cream and caramel sauce I used to make cheesecake for Christmas dinner but it's too much work. Maybe for Easter....

Great post! It's nice to see people doing so much.despite their pain. We can't let pain define our lives or we'll drown in it.

Sandy

Yep all done, pressies wrapped tree up bit sad though as we usually spend the day with my sister and family since i cant do dinner now, their going to my sisters mother in law shes 80 so i do understand, so its just us but i dont mind i can spend the day in my PJs lol, i hope you all have a wonderful day. susie x